Kodak Offers Three Refund Choices

February 13, 1986|By Martin Sloane

The year is still young, but one of the most interesting refund offers of the year will surely be the one from Eastman Kodak Co. In exchange for sending Kodak any model of its instant camera, Kodak is offering consumers several refund options.

Kodak began producing instant cameras in 1976 and has sold 16.5 million of them since then. But soon after their introduction, the Polaroid Corp. brought a legal action against Kodak, claiming patent infringement. Last October, a federal court decided that the Kodak instant cameras and film did infringe upon seven of the Polaroid patents and ordered Kodak to cease production of the instant cameras and film. Kodak appealed, and when a federal appeals court in Washington recently upheld the ruling, the injunction took effect.

Almost instantly, the Kodak instant cameras have become obsolete. When the available supply of Kodak instant film is gone, no more of it will be produced.

But Kodak has announced that it will compensate the owners of its instant cameras, which is good customer relations and welcome news to millions of consumers. Kodak is giving owners of its instant cameras three choices:

The camera owner can choose to receive a share of Kodak stock. The Kodak shares have recently traded on the New York Stock Exchange in the range of $46 to $50 a share, and, with the recent introduction of several new products, some analysts see Kodak as a good long-term investment. But the romance of share ownership may seem less attractive when you consider that to sell the share, you will have to pay a sales commission of as much as $30.

An instant-camera owner can also trade his camera in for a new Kodak Tele Challenger disk camera and two packets of film. Similar models are selling at discount stores for approximately $40 to $45.

The most attractive alternative seems to be the third choice, which allows an owner to trade his instant camera for $50 worth of Kodak coupons. This offer gives consumers great freedom of choice, since the coupons can be redeemed on the purchase of any Kodak film or equipment. There are 10 $5 coupons which can be redeemed for cash by sending Kodak proofs of purchase. The coupons are good until the end of 1987.

To start the process for obtaining your refund, call the toll-free number (800) 792-3000. Operators are available 24 hours a day. You will be asked the model name or number of your Kodak instant camera (instant cameras are not to be confused with the Kodak instamatic series of cameras) and your name and address. Within six to eight weeks, you will receive a letter explaining your three choices, a selection form, and a postage-paid mailer for the return of your instant camera.

The Kodak instant-camera refund offer is not one you have to take advantage of instantly. In fact, you can take your time, use up any Kodak instant film you have left, and watch the price of Kodak shares. The offer is good until the end of 1986. It should also be noted that the offer is limited to three instant cameras per household.

Adolph`s $1 Marinade Offer. Receive one 50-cent coupon good toward your next purchase of any three Adolph`s marinades and one 50-cent coupon good toward your next purchase of meat or poultry. Send the required refund form and two front panels from any of the ``new`` Adolph`s Marinades (Meat or Chicken Marinade with No Salt Added, Marinade in Minutes Teriyaki Flavor or Marinade in Minutes Sweet `n Sour Flavor). Expires March 31.

Chicken Helper Refund Offer. Receive a coupon for $1.50 off a purchase of chicken. Send the required refund form and the Universal Product Code symbols from three packages of any variety of Chicken Helper. Expires March 31.

Fleischmann`s Yeast Offer. Receive a free three-strip of RapidRise. Send the required refund form and two Universal Product Codes from either Fleischmann`s RapidRise or Regular All-Natural Yeast, or one of each. Expires March 31.

Old El Paso Cheese Sauce Offer. Receive a coupon good for one free can of Old El Paso Nacho Cheese Sauce. Send the required refund form and the proof of purchase from one can of Old El Paso Nacho Cheese Sauce. Expires March 31.

Here`s a refund form to write for $1 in S.O.S. coupons or a 75-cent refund. S.O.S. Oven Cleaning Pad Refund Offer, Miles Laboratories, 7123 W. 65th St., Chicago, Ill. 60638. This offer expires April 30. While waiting for the form, save two proof-of-purchase symbols, each from the end flap of two separate S.O.S. Oven Cleaning Pad cartons.

Write to Martin Sloane at United Features Syndicate, 200 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017.